Projectile



s B. H. BAYLOR PROJECTILE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 2,3EMWM WEMJTE Mrd ti ylor,Ricomil, Va.

My invention relates to improvements in projec'tiles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a projectile which isa combination shrapnelshell for anti-aircraft artillery, fieldartillery, and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shrapnel-shell havingtwo bursts on the same trajectory, allowing a considerable distance be-.tween the bursts, rendering it easier to strike the target. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a shrapnel-shell of theabove-mentioned character which will impart an increased velocity to theshrapnel and a wider angle of scatter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in whichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section through ashrapnel-shell embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line oi Figure l, a

Figure 3 is a similar view taken on line of Figure l,

Figure t is a similar view taken on line of Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the rear end of the projectile case,parts broken away.

in the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral it designates the caseof the projectile, having a closed rear end it provided with a chamberit for receiving a charge of black powder it, which is employed toproject the shrapnel from within the case. The case iii may be formed ofsteel.

Disposed at the forward end of the steel case is a steel head M, securedthereto by pins Hi, which will break upon the exploding of the powdercharge it to permit of the head it being blown from the case it. Thehead it carries a fuse It, which may be a time and percussion fuse. Thisiuse has a cylindrical tubular part ll engaging within a screw-threadedopening it, formed in 5 the head Mi.

Arranged within the steel case iii is an inner tube or barrel ill, ofsmaller diameter than the case it and arranged in spaced concentricrelation therewith, providing an annular passage or chamber Ell. Thisannular chamber receives the l W l 194% Serial No. 350,835

explosive charge 2! which bursts the case and barrel l9 after theshrapnel has been projected therefrom. This charge is preferablynitro-cellulose powder. At its rear end, the barrel i9 is screwed into arecess 22 of the case 110, as shown. The bore of the recess 22 has adiameter smaller than the bore of the case it, forming a shoulder 22while the chamber l2 has a bore smaller than the recess 22, forming ashoulder 22 The barrel it is screwed down to firmly engage the shoulder22 whereby the rear end of the chamber 2B is closed and has nocommunication with the interior of the barrel l9. At theforward end-oiiii all

the barrel i9 is a bronze bushing 23, which has screw-threadedengagement within the case Hi. This annular bronze bushing covers theforward end of the annular chamber Eli and terminates flush with theinner wall of the barrel l9 and has studs or prongs 23' which projectinwardly beyond the inner face of the barrel it. These studs or prongspreferably taper so that they will not interfere with the properdischarge of the shrapnel. There is a shim ill of paper or the like,clamped between the free end of the barrel it and the bushing 23.Arranged centrally within the barrel i9 is an ignition tube M, holding aburning composition and the rear end of this tube is anchored in anopening 25 formed in a steel dia phragm or disk 25, arranged at the rearend of the barrel ill and covering the chamber 2. The tune (it leadsinto the chamber it. The tube ll-l at its forward end also leads to theinterior of the cylindrical tubular part ll of the fuse, passing throughan opening ll, formed in the end wall it. This tube M is removablymounted in the opening ii. The time and percussion fuse ignites [theburning material in the tube 2%, in accordance with the usual practice.7

The barrel is filled with shrapnel in the form of shot or slugs El.

The barrel i9 is provided near its forward end with vents 2d leadinginto the forward end or the annular chamber to which is filled iorwardlyor" the explosive charge at with a slow burning composition as, at therear of which is a primer 2% of black powder.

The shell case ill is provided with a soft copper rotating band 30,rigidly secured thereto, the ma.-

0 terial of which is forced into the grooves of the rifled barrel, toproduce a gas-tight fit when the projectile is fired. This band is shownas equipped with three gradual depressions Ill, extending longitudinallyof the case l6 from the rear 55 to the forward edge of the band. ii].The deprestion it is about ,6 of an inch in depth, the same beingsomewhat exaggerated in the drawing,

In Figure 5, I have shown the case it as equipped with a soft copperrotating band, corresponding to the band it, and having inclined orslanting grooves it, arranged beneath the same. These grooves are formedin the case ill, and are preferably V of an inch deep, and these groovesextend beyond the forward and rear edges of the band.

The depressions ti and grooves Ml permit of the entering of a smallamount of air into the barrel of the gun in the rear of the projectile.

The operation of the projectile i as follows:

The projectile is introduced into the barrel of the gun and shot fromthe same by the explosive charge in the barrel. The fuse It, time orpercussion, when exploding, ignites the burning material in the tube 2twhich in turn ignites the black powder charge Iii. When this chargeexplodes, the head it is blown from the case Ill, and the diaphragm ordisk 26 is projected forwardly within the case It and stops when itengages the bronze bushing 23. The explosion of the powder charge itprojects the shrapnel 21 from within the case and their angle or spreadincreases when the disk or diaphragm 26 engages the studs or prongs 23'of the bronze bushing 23 and is suddenly stopped thereby. After theshrapnel 21 has been projected from the case It, the slow burningcomposition 29 ignites the black powder primer 29', in turn causing thenitro-oellulose powder 2| to explode, thereby bursting the case NJ andbarrel It.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of th subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A projectile comprising a case, an explosive charge in the rear endof the case, a diaphragm covering the explosive charge, a bushingarranged within and secured to the case adjacent to its forward end tostop the forward movement of the diaphragm, a fuse element, a headcarrying the fuse element and secured to the forward end of the case byreadily breakable means, a tube leading at its forward end into the fuseelement and at its rear end to the explosive charge within the case, asecond explosive charge to explode the case after the explosion of thefirst explosive charge, and shrapnel filling the case between thediaphragm and head.

- 2. A projectile comprising a case having its rear end closed, anexplosive charge held within the rear end, a barrel arranged within thecase and attached at its rear end to the case, said barrel having asmaller diameter than th interior diameter of the case to provide achamber surtion within the forward end of the said chamber adjacent tothe vents, a primer adjacent to the slow burning composition, a bushingarranged within and secured to the case adjacent to its forward end andextending inwardly into the barrel, a head having a breakable connectionwith the forward end of the case, a fuse element carried by the head, atube extending through the barrel and having its forward end leadinginto the fuse element and its rear end in communication with the firstnamed explosive charge, and shrapnel filling the barreL 3. A projectilecomprising a case having a bore and its rear end closed and provided atthe rear end with a chamber having a smaller diameter than the diameterof the bore of the case for affording a shoulder, a barrel arrangedwithin the case and having an exterior diameter considerably smallerthan the diameter of said bore, said barrel having its rear end inscrew-threaded engagement with the case adjacent to the shoulder, thebarrel forming a chamber with the case which chamber is closed at itsrear end adjacent to the shoulder, said barrel having vents adjacent toits forward end, an explosive charge within the rear chamber, a secondexplosive charge within the second chamber between the barrel and case,a slow burning composition within the second chamber adjacent to thevents, a diaphragm within the barrel adjacent to the shoulder, a headhaving a breakable connection with the forward end of the barrel, a fuseelement mounted upon the head, a tube leading into the fuse element andto the first named charge, and shrapnel held within the barrel.

4. A projectile comprising a case, an explosive charge within the case,a diaphragm covering the explosive charge and having an opening formedtherein, means carried by the forward portion of the case to stop themovement of the diaphragm with relation to the case when engaging saidmeans, shrapnel arranged within the case in advance of the diaphragm, atime and percussion fuse carried by the case, a tube having both endsopen and arranged within the case and having its forward end incommunication with the fuse and its rear end passing through the openingin the diaphragm and in communication with th explosive charge, a secondexplosive charge to burst the case after the explosion of the firstcharge, and a slow burning composition within the case and arranged tobe ignited by the bursting of the first charge to subsequently explodethe second charge.

5. A projectile comprising a case, shrapnel Within the case, a diaphragmwithin the case at the rear of the shrapnel, means carried by theforward portion of the case to stop the movement of the diaphragm withrelation to the case when, engaging said means, an explosive chargewithi the case behind the diaphragm, a second explog sive charge withinthe case to burst the case, an means carried by the case and timed inoperation to first explode the first named charge and subsequentlyexplode the second named charge.

BERNARD H. BAYLOR.

